Folly Beach, South Carolina – Aric Hutchinson, the husband of a bride tragically killed in a beach road crash on their wedding night last year, is set to receive nearly a million dollars in a financial settlement related to the incident. The settlement, totaling about $863,300, involves multiple businesses, including Folly Beach bars the Drop In Bar & Deli, the Crab Shack, and Snapper Jacks, as well as Progressive auto insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The settlement was approved by Charleston County Circuit Court Judge Roger Young earlier this week.
Hutchinson filed lawsuits against these businesses after Jamie Lee Komoroski crashed into a golf cart carrying him and his newly wedded wife, Samantha Miller, away from their wedding reception on April 28, 2023. The crash resulted in Miller’s tragic death, with Hutchinson sustaining a brain injury and multiple broken bones. Komoroski was reported to have been driving 65mph on a 25mph road, with a blood-alcohol concentration more than three times the legal limit.
In a wrongful death lawsuit, Hutchinson claimed that Komoroski had been visibly intoxicated at several bars around Folly Beach before causing the fatal crash. The settlements reached a total of $1.3 million, but the final amount received by Hutchinson will be less after attorney and legal fees are deducted. Komoroski, who is currently out on bond, faces charges of felony driving under the influence resulting in death, reckless homicide, and two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury.
In a recorded jailhouse telephone call obtained by the media in March, Komoroski expressed optimism about the future despite facing serious charges. The tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of driving under the influence and the importance of responsible choices behind the wheel. The legal proceedings surrounding this case highlight the need for accountability and justice in cases of preventable tragedies on the road.